December 8th, once again marked the annual Laba Festival.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since Qing Yu first arrived at the Divine Capital Mountain River Academy to study.
Last year’s Laba Festival was indeed bustling, with Ming Rui Snow going up to Datong Mountain at night, engaging in a fierce battle with Zhuge Longsu. Although Qing Yu did not witness the battle firsthand, she felt the alarm in all that unfolded.
rely the disturbance from the clash made Qing Yu, under the protection of the Haqi River at that ti, feel overwheld. Had she been at the scene, probably even the remnants of her Innate Realm self would have been obliterated.
Moreover, it was that sa night that Qing Yu began to suspect Jin Mingxuan’s true identity, and later she even killed this rather agreeable fellow in the Small Secret Realm. Honestly, Qing Yu felt a bit of regret about it at the ti. After all, interesting people like Jin Mingxuan were rare.
"Ti flies, a year has passed," Qing Yu sighed.
This year’s Laba Festival was much more peaceful than the last. The matter of the Esoteric Sect entering Northern Zhou had been dragging on for a while, yet there was still no conclusion. Emperor of Northern Zhou, Feng Tianming, had also not responded directly, his attitude quite ambiguous.
Today was rare for Qing Yu as she wasn’t practicing in her secret room, instead, she sat in the courtyard sunbathing.
However, even while sunbathing, there were still tasks to be done.
At that mont, Qing Yu held a docunt in her hand—a contract for a murder. The target was none other than Qingxu, her well-acquainted senior brother.
The reward for this contract was also quite tempting—the "Azure Dragon Star Coiling," the one part missing from the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills collected by the Zhenwu Sect that Qing Yu sought.
However, the employer had played a slippery trick, not paying the full reward as per the rules. The "Azure Dragon Star Coiling" secret manual was missing one-third, hence was regretfully labeled "incomplete."
The person responsible for receiving the reward, fearing to peruse the precious secret manual, only realized it was incomplete when it reached Qing Yu.
"After this is done, then the rest will be delivered?" Qing Yu’s lips curled into a cold smile.
The employer did seem sowhat sincere as he had also provided the most recent whereabouts of Qingxu afterwards. It seed that if the man wasn’t lying, the Azure Dragon Association would only need to send soone to collect the head.
Yet, this matter had various doubtful aspects. Not to ntion the source of the "Azure Dragon Star Coiling" alone was questionable.
Qing Yu had no idea that Xuan Guang also knew all the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills, and thus targeted the Zhenwu Sect directly. Although the Zhenwu Sect used these skills as a reward for capturing Xuan Guang, Xuan Guang was still freely roaming the Southern Border, and nobody had claid the reward.
Thus, the origin of this secret manual had to be soone from the Zhenwu Sect. So, who exactly had initiated this contract? Qing Yu marked this with a question.
Without understanding this issue, Qing Yu was not about to rashly take risks. Knowing that Qingxu might not actually go to the eting, and fearing that Qingxu’s teacher might appear instead.
So, it was better to put it aside for now.
Another matter was also troubling Qing Yu.
This issue wasn’t about murder, but concerned Yuan Jianyi. This fellow had recently rushed around Northern Zhou searching for Gong Ziyu’s whereabouts.
After searching everywhere to no avail, Yuan Jianyi went directly to a shop in Shadow Market to place a contract on his own life. However, Yuan Jianyi refused to pay for this deed. This matter and Qingxu’s contract were handed over to Qing Yu together.
The people below said they couldn’t decide.
At Qing Yu’s end, she now did not plan to interfere much.
Although Emperor Feng Tianming had not formally welcod the Esoteric Sect进入北周, the Esoteric Sect had already begun building temples throughout Northern Zhou.
Originally stagnant like a pool of dead water, Northern Zhou was now very lively because of the Esoteric Sect, the active catfish. Though True Pill Realm masters were rare, their confird appearances were indeed from the Esoteric Sect.
This piece of news completely quenched Qing Yu’s intent to stir things up. Although the death of Kong Hai was blad on Shi Jue, Qing Yu still thought it better to be cautious, lest the Esoteric Sect catch her off guard.
"Hmm? Why has he co?" Qing Yu suddenly raised an eyebrow, sensing Feng Jiu’s presence.
Today was Laba Festival, and the Imperial Family had a family banquet. Although the banquet was held in the evening, arriving only in the evening would undeniably be considered rude.
Thus, princes like Feng Jiu should have entered the palace early in the morning.
However, now, Feng Jiu, who should have been headed to the palace, had co to Qing Yu instead.
After pondering for a mont, Qing Yu decided to see what urgent matter Feng Jiu had, preventing him from proceeding to the Imperial Palace imdiately.
A few monts later, a hurried series of footsteps ca from outside, and Feng Jiu strode into the courtyard, his voice grave: "This year’s Laba Festival, Father Emperor has decided to not have a family banquet but to hold it in the Wanfu Pavilion within the palace, sharing porridge with the Hundred Officials."
"Moreover, monks from the Esoteric Sect have also been invited to recite prayers and blessings."
"Esoteric Sect?" Qing Yu asked in surprise, "Is he finally making a stand?"
"I don’t know," Feng Jiu shook his head, "The official reason is that Laba Festival is a grand Buddhist holiday, inviting Buddhist monks for blessings. But behind that, the internal reasons remain unknown."
Laba Festival is one of the grand Buddhist holidays, traditionally said to be the day Buddha attained enlightennt, also called the "Dharma Treasure Festival." Originally exclusively a Buddhist festival, over ti, it has gradually beco a well-known folk holiday.
Although Emperor Feng Tianming’s attitude had been unclear thus far, it was hard to say he wasn’t waiting for an appropriate mont to announce. If he indeed officially announces the integration of the Esoteric Sect into Northern Zhou, then the storm is truly about to begin.
While Qing Yu pondered whether Emperor Feng Tianming was truly resolute on welcoming the Esoteric Sect into Northern Zhou, suddenly the sound of horse hooves thundered from outside, soone was riding at full speed.
Strange things indeed continued one after another. Qing Yu was currently at the foot of Datong Mountain, normally, to show respect for Mountain River Academy and to prevent accidents, it was forbidden to ride horses or drive carriages at high speeds except in special cases.
Today being Laba Festival, many local students were going ho to celebrate with their families, so the area at the foot of the mountain was bustling—students, their family mbers coming to pick them up, or servants jostled shoulder to shoulder.
How could soone daring to ride fast here and now not be bizarre?
"Listening to the sound, they’re heading directly up Datong Mountain, probably to the Mountain River Academy. Go check it out," Qing Yu told Feng Jiu.
"Okay," Feng Jiu replied and hurried off again.
Qing Yu slowly stood up, looking at the clear sky today, and suddenly laughed: "These people really do have a special fondness for Laba Festival, choosing today of all days to stir up trouble."
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